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An assembler wanted to automatically feed and orient synthetic corks at a feed rate of 200 parts per minute. These corks are difficult to feed due to the sticky film that remains on their surface after the manufacturing process.

There's nothing quite like a multistation automated assembly system. Watching robots, actuators and indexers go about their carefully choreographed routines with little or no human intervention can seem nothing short of miraculous.

The manufacturer needed to present thin steel blades down an assembly line in a specific orientation. However, the parts were essentially symmetrical, with the exception of a small notch that had to be presented on the right side. With no real differences in the part other than this notch, feeding them to an assembly mechanism with 100 percent accuracy was a challenge.

Getting the right part in the right place, in the right orientation, and at the right time is vital to time- and cost-efficient assembly. This article provides tips and techniques for effectively feeding and positioning parts for both manual and automated applications.

Tooling a vibratory feeder bowl is truly a black art. Indeed, two bowl makers working side-by-side on bowls for the same part may devise two completely different solutions. In this article, feeder bowl manufacturers describe a few tricks of the trade, and offer tips on how assemblers can facilitate the bowl-making process.

Events

This webinar will provide industrial controls engineers insightful and actionable information on how to best design control panels for modern manufacturing environments. The thought-leadership style of the content will offer a credible viewpoint on how to transform plant floors and machine designs for an era of rapidly increasing data capture.

The ASSEMBLY Show focuses exclusively on assembly technology equipment and products. Attendees have the opportunity to uncover new resources, experience equipment hands-on, evaluate the latest technologies and products, and connect face-to-face with industry experts.

Poll

Supply Chain

The coronavirus epidemic has begun to disrupt the global manufacturing supply chain for a number of OEMs, including Airbus, Hyundai and Tesla. How resilient is your supply chain network?

Moderately resilient: We have good visibility to the supply network. It’s hard to justify investments to modify our supply chain footprint. We focus more on managing disruptions once they occur.

Highly resilient: We have good visibility to the supply network. We view flexibility and resilience as necessary investments. We can shift sourcing, manufacturing or distribution within our network fairly rapidly.

Not resilient: We are dependent on our existing sourcing, manufacturing and distribution footprint. We must find other ways to compensate for changing conditions. We have yet to invest in analytics to support network decision making.